On the morning of September the 11th 2001, 3 men entered an express elevator in the World Trade Tower. Two of them were wearing Armani suits, the other jeans and a T shirt. One person was carrying a mop, the other two, custom handmade brief cases. When the lights went out and the elevator filled with smoke, the janitor began to figure out how they could escape their prison. He used the mop handle to pry open the elevator doors. From his knowledge of the building, he determined that the wall that they faced was actually the back of a washroom which was being renovated. He used the mop to beat a hole in the bare drywall on both sides of the studded wall large enough for the three of them to crawl through. In the dark and smoke-filled restroom, the janitor led his “colleagues” on their hands and knees (feeling their way) out of the washroom, down the hall to the emergency stairwell and out of the building to safety.
If anyone would have entered the elevator before the lights went out and were asked to pick the leader in the group, the janitor would have been the least likely candidate. However, in this crisis the janitor was optimally positioned to solve the problem. He had knowledge that the others didn’t have and he used it to problem solve. In any crisis, the person who understands the situation and who has a solution automatically becomes the leader. Effective leaders articulate and prioritize the problems within the context of all the issues and present strategies and practical road maps for arriving at the solution. They convey confidence that they can see where they are going and know how to get there. Their sincerity and passion make people trust and follow them. Leaders also see the talents and abilities in others and how best to use them to accomplish the goal. Leaders are visionaries, and visionaries are leaders.
In a few weeks, we will be electing a team of people who will serve and lead our community. We have much to be thankful for in Wilmot Township but we also have many challenges. Whom we choose for the positions of leadership will determine how the challenges we face are addressed. Key to our “success” as voters is choosing leaders who can identify the most important issues which will produce the most positive impact in our community. The leaders we select must also be able to articulate strategic plans for accomplishing their vision for the Township and have realistic plans for getting there. We so often get bogged down in other less productive dialogue when “interviewing” the candidates. Where will they take us, what they will accomplish, and how will they get us there…..these are the important questions!!
Who will be the best leaders for Wilmot? We will decide. But maybe you are not sure yet who to support. Consider attending one of the All Candidates’ meetings and ask questions about vision, direction, and strategic planning and gauge the confidence each candidate can convey in their leadership. We need visionary leaders for Wilmot Township – local government does matter to us.